Enhanced Access is a service introduced by the NHS in October 2022.
It requires GP practices to provide additional appointments to patients during evenings and weekends; until 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am-5pm on Saturdays as a minimum.
This is being delivered at PCN-level, meaning neighbouring GP practices in Chanctonbury have shared use of the service (Billingshurst surgery, Henfield Medical Centre, The Glebe Surgery and Steyning Health Centre).
Depending on your specific needs and the availability of services and clinicians, your practice may offer you an evening or weekend appointment at our enhanced access hub.
A mix of services will be available within these additional hours hubs, with access to the range of health professionals working in the primary care team. There will be a choice of ways to access appointments depending on clinical need, such as telephone, video consultation or face to face.
If a face-to-face appointment is needed, this will be at a GP practice in the local area – this may not be at your own GP practice, but at another nearby. Within Chanctonbury these will be available at The Glebe Surgery in Storrington and/or at Steyning Health Centres sister site in Upper Beeding.
Enhanced Access sessions will be staffed by a mix of GPs, Practice Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and a Receptionist.
Because this is a shared resource, each practice has a fair share of appointments with each clinician. For that reason, appointments will not be able for patients to book themselves directly.
Please note access to our Enhanced Access hubs are by appointment only.
It is not a walk-in service, and the venue is not open for general practice enquiries. All requests still need to be made to practices during their normal opening hours (and able to be cancelled by the patient remotely).
